Best Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea Problems

Dogs can have sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) systems, just like humans. Often dogs with food sensitivities can easily be managed by changing your dog’s diet, though some dogs require veterinary care.

Dogs can have food sensitivities to specific ingredients or can be sensitive to diets that contain too much fat or not enough fiber.

What Causes Dogs to have a Sensitive Stomach, Gas, And Diarrhea?

Food sensitivities are different than food allergies. Food allergies impact a dog’s immune system, whereas a food sensitivity is the lack of ability to properly digest specific foods. 

Food sensitivities can cause GI upset in the form of vomiting, flatulence, or inconsistent bowel movements. To determine if your dog has a specific food sensitivity or an imbalance in fiber or fat can be identified with the assistance of your veterinarian and through food testing.

Food testing is removing the primary foods that cause GI sensitivities. After your dog has been off of specific foods for a few weeks, slowly add foods back in one at a time to ascertain which foods are contributing to the GI problems.

Also, dogs who are overweight can suffer from GI issues, including excessive flatulence, so weightloss may aid in reducing GI discomfort in your dog.

What Foods Cause Dogs to have Gas?

Dogs can have gas issues because of the food they eat or because they are getting too much air when eating. If your pup eats their food too quickly, you may consider getting a slow feeder bowl. If your dog is taller, they might be getting too much air when bending down to eat so a raised bowl may aid in eliminating their flatulence issues.

However, a dog’s diet can also impact their flatulence problems. Diets that are not easily digested can cause an abnormal increase in gas in dogs.

What Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Foods for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs

Not all dogs have the same food sensitivities, but as a general rule for dogs who do have stomach sensitivities, it would be best to avoid the two following ingredients:

• Dairy – Dairy is a more difficult ingredient to digest
• Synthetic food additives – This includes colors/dyes, flavors, and artificial preservatives. Synthetic ingredients are not easily digestible and can cause GI upset.

What to look for in Foods for Dogs with Digestive Issues

When looking for a quality dog food for dog’s with GI issues, it is essential to look for diets that contain:

• Probiotics and Prebiotics – Both help to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in the gut
• Foods containing no more than 15% fat
• Beet Pulp – Which is an excellent fiber to help bulk up bowel movements.
• Foods Rich in Antioxidants like Sweet Potatoes, Kelp, Blueberries, and Spinach
• Foods containing 30 – 70% carbohydrates

9 Best Dry Dog Foods for Dogs with a Sensitive Stomach, Gas, and Diarrhea Problems

1. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Turkey and Potato Dry Dog Food

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Turkey and Potato formula is grain-free and formulated with easily digestible carbohydrates. This is a single protein food, and turkey is a high-quality, low-fat animal protein that is rich in fatty acids.

Additionally, this formula contains chicory root, which is a natural prebiotic and aids in ensuring a healthy digestive system. Also, ground flaxseed is the seventh ingredient. Ground flaxseed is highly digestible, full of fiber, and contains Omega-3 fatty acids.

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Turkey and Potato formula’s guaranteed analysis shows the appropriate amount of fat and an optimal amount of fiber. This dog food has also been enhanced with probiotics which are perfect for dogs with digestive issues.

2. Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Lamb and Oat Meal Formula is specially designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Its primary carbohydrate is oats which are both easily digestible and high in fiber. The primary animal protein and the first ingredient in this recipe is lamb, which is a quality unique protein and would work well for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities.

Though the food is not grain-free, it does not contain soy, wheat, or corn which are common ingredients dogs with sensitive stomachs often avoid. Additionally, this food is free of artificial flavors and colors, both of which can cause stomach upset in dogs that suffer from GI issues.

Purina Pro Plan Lamb and Oat Meal also have been enhanced with natural prebiotics to help promote healthy digestive systems. This food is slightly higher in fat; however, if your dog’s digestive issues stem from ingredient sensitivity more than fat content, this is a great option.

3. CANIDAE PURE Real Salmon Grain Free Premium Dry Dog Food

Canidae Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe contains only eight main ingredients, and salmon is the first ingredient. In addition to the eight primary ingredients, this formula has added probiotics to ensure proper digestive health.

This food is free of grains, soy, corn, and chicken which is optimal for dogs with specific food sensitivities or allergies. Also, this food is rich in antioxidants that help promote a robust immune system.

Canidae offers a variety of other protein recipes, similar to the salmon that aid in supporting a healthy GI system.

4. Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe

Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight recipe is perfect for dogs that suffer from sensitive stomachs due to weight issues. This is a high fiber lower fat food that aids in weight loss.  However,  because of the high fiber content and high-quality lean proteins, it will also keep your dog feeling full.

Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight has a variety of antioxidant-rich ingredients like cranberries, broccoli, and apples. Also, it contains dried beet pulp which helps to ensure regular bowel movements.

Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight is not the right formula for dogs with food allergies or food sensitivities.

5. Nutro Ultra Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro Ultra Weight Management recipe is a great dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It contains three lean animal proteins chicken, lamb, and salmon, all of which promote a healthy weight. Also, this food is rich in superfoods like kale, blueberries, and pumpkin, which also happens to aid in ensuring a healthy digestive system. This food contains dried beet pulp which is excellent for digestive health.

Additionally, this food is free from corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors, which is optimal for dogs with sensitive digestive issues.

6. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance L.I.D. Salmon and Sweet Potato formula is a limited ingredient formula perfect for dogs with severe food sensitivities.  This food is free from grains, chicken, corn, soy, and eggs.

Natural Balance L.I.D. Salmon and Sweet Potato has been formulated with highly digestible carbohydrates and also contain flaxseed which is an excellent source of fiber.  This food is lower in fat, which is perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

7. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Dog Food

Nutrish Super Premium Turkey, Brown Rice, and Venison Recipe is full of easily digestible ingredients. The first ingredient is turkey which is a healthy lean protein.  Brown rice is the second ingredient, which is a healthy and easily digestible fiber. Also, this recipe includes cranberries and beet pulp, both of which aid in ensuring a healthy GI system.

Nutrish Super Premium also contains L-Carnitine an ingredient that can help to maintain a healthy weight.   This food is free from wheat, soy, and eggs, so dogs with specific food allergies or sensitivities may benefit from this diet. Also, this formula is low in fat and has an above average amount of fiber.

8. Country Vet Naturals Grain Free Probiotic Dry Dog Food

Country Vet Naturals Grain-Free is a well-balanced diet for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It is rich in probiotics and superfoods. Some of the key ingredients that are helpful to maintain a healthy GI system are cranberries, beets, and parsley. 

Additionally, there are three different varieties of Lactobacillus a gut-friendly bacterium found in most probiotics. Though this food is higher in fat and lower in fiber, because of the highly digestible ingredients and high level of probiotics, this is still a good formula for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

9. Gentle Giants Natural Dog Food

Gentle Giants Chicken formula isn’t optimal for dogs with food allergies to grains and chicken; there is a hypoallergenic salmon formula that would work.

Gentle Giants food contains chicory, brown rice, flaxseeds, and beets, all of which are easily digested and promotes good GI health. Additionally, there are three different varieties of Lactobacillus which support a healthy digestive system.

Finally, this formula is full of superfoods like kelp, pumpkin, blueberries, and spinach, all of which are rich in antioxidants.

Final Thoughts

Thankfully the dog food market has a multitude of options which makes it easier for dog parents to find foods that best meet their dog’s dietary needs. Many of the foods listed above have different protein varieties but still, retain the easily digestible ingredients.

If your dog does suffer from a sensitive GI system changing their diet can be an easy solution to resolving this issue.